This was my first time at Boulevard Kitchen, Manzil Downtown Dubai’s chic, Arabesque cafe-style diner. Every Friday, the restaurant does a very elaborate buffet-style brunch which starts at AED 195 per person.

The menu is very Mediterranean, yet apart from the delicious fare, the experience as a whole was uniquely memorable for a number of reasons.

The Ambiance

Walking into Boulevard Kitchen is a treat for the eyes. From the Arabesque cutout detailing on the walls to very chic, Parisian-style table settings, Boulevard Kitchen is very chic and contemporary without being stiff-lipped and haughty. The atmosphere still manages to be very laid-back and relaxed.

You can choose to sit at the front patio facing Downtown Dubai, casually puffing shisha. Or dine indoors to take in the striking decor. They also have an open courtyard at the back, which is an ideal setting for a drink or two.

Perfect for Entertaining Overseas Guests

The next time I have family and friends visiting from overseas, I will definitely do a booking for the Boulevard Kitchen’s Friday Brunch. The decor of this place is absolutely stunning, and is a perfect reflection of the contemporary Arabesque beauty of the UAE.

Adding to the Arabesque experience, the brunch features hosts decked up in traditional wear. A friendly young man clad in Emirati-style dishdasha pours out kahwa (Arabic black coffee) for guests.

Another staff member has the designation of ‘Moroccan Tea Server’, and carries around very large, ornate serve-ware to serve at the tables.

Ladies get a henna treat, inclusive of the brunch! I was approached by a lovely lady who offered to do a traditional henna design on my hand. How pretty is this! 

Child Friendly (menu, play area)

Despite having a very elaborate spread that spans across three halls, Boulevard Kitchen has a separate a la carte menu for young children, that is covered in the brunch cost. Children under 6 dine for free, and for those between 7 to 12 it costs AED 95 per child. 

Boulevard Kitchen also has a fully supervised children’s corner. 

The children are not just left to play on their own here, but given a crash course on arts and crafts. Look what my little cherub created! 

Bar & Shisha

Boulevard Kitchen has goodies for the big kids too! The restaurant has a well-stocked bar, and the brunch can be upgraded to the alcohol package for AED 295 per person.

If you’re into shisha, Boulevard Kitchen is the place to be! Their chilled out yet sophisticated atmosphere makes it an ideal venue for puffing on that pipe.

Elaborate Spread

Boulevard Kitchen’s Friday Brunch has something for everybody. They have a smorgasbord of breads and cheese, healthful salads with Mediterranean influences, rows of curries and meaty condiments, and a separate section for grills.

The dessert section of the Boulevard Kitchen brunch looks very ladylike and Parisian. Absolutely love their cake stands! Was very hard narrowing down on my pastry choices.

Unique Offerings

Boulevard Kitchen’s Friday Brunch has quite a number of unique buffet additions. My personal favorite was their pitcher of Moroccan Iced Tea. You have to scoop up the tea from this ornate silver pitcher. The tea itself is sweet, iced and very robust with the scent of exotic Moroccan tea. I must have had at least three glassfuls, sipping through vintage-style stripy paper straws.

Hubby got introduced to Lebanese beer. Our host tells us Almaza is Lebanon’s favorite beer.

I like the intro to Almaza beer on the back of the bottle:

I am a huge fan of pina colada, and requested a non-alcoholic version of it. The presentation of this drink had us blown away! How fancy is the pineapple-shaped cup?!

With the addition of fresh coconut cream and dollops of cinnamon powder, this virgin pina colada was the perfect accompaniment to my gastronomic meal.

Exceptionally Good Customer Service (lobster)

The staff at Boulevard Kitchen are very approachable, and manage to be attentive to all the guests’ needs without being intrusive.

Many of the buffet items are made fresh, and served at the table. When Hubby looked up their grilled lobsters and was informed they had run out, the Chef took it upon himself to serve him a fresh new plateful right at our table!

Great Value for Money (lobster, kids zone, shisha, 12-4)

A smorgasbord of deliciously exotic Mediterranean dishes, a beautifully relaxed Arabesque ambiance, and exceptionally good customer service to boot! This is what ideal Friday brunches are made of.

Boulevard Kitchen’s Friday Brunch runs from 12 noon to 4 pm every Friday, and costs AED 195 per person. You can upgrade this to the unlimited alcohol package for AED 295 per person. Children under 6 dine for free, and it costs AED 95 for those between 7 to 12.

Boulevard Kitchen is located on the ground floor of Manzil Downtown Dubai on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard (Downtown Dubai, Dubai). If you are planning a visit this Friday, I highly recommend you book a table in advance, call 04 4535212.

Happy Napping Day peeps! Did you know that today, the 14th of March, is officially the day we get to celebrate napping? The lovely people at Casper, the makers of luxury mattresses, pointed out the significance of this date to me.

Before you grab that pillow and doze off in celebratory bliss, do have a read on the importance of napping. Very few of us have the luxury of doing the ‘Full Monty’ of 8 hours straight. The good news is even short power naps can make a world of difference.

Some Fun Facts on Sleep:

• Adults need a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a night to function properly.
• The recommended hours of sleep per night for adults is 8 hours.
• Most people go through 5 stages of sleep every night.
• Most people go through REM sleep 4 to 5 times a night.
• REM stands for ‘Random Eye Movement’, a semi-state of sleep that allows you to dream.
• A lack of sufficient sleep has been linked to chronic health issues including high blood pressure, heart disease and even diabetes.
• Research has also shown that a lack of sleep leads to weight gain!
• A lack of sleep can kill you faster than a lack of food! Adults can survive up to 2 weeks without food, but only a maximum of 11 days sans sleep.
• Famous fiction characters who love to sleep are Sleeping Beauty and Rip Van Winkle, remember them? :-)

The creative team at Casper has come up with this lovely infographic on Napping 101. Didn’t get your 8 hours last night? Scroll down for tips on how to make the most of short snoozes.

Last Saturday, we were invited for a Zomato meetup at Sabella’s Organic Italian Restaurant at the Kempinski Hotel, Ajman. It isn’t often that we venture out to this northern emirate to dine, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

When we got to Sabella’s, the setup had me blown away! A long table, set with starched white linen was set up in the open patio. The table was beautifully decorated with mason jars of preserved fruit (very apt for an ‘organic’ restaurant), but the real beauty of Sabella’s lies in its breathtaking views of the sea.

The patio takes full advantage of the vantage point of the sea. The scene is of a relaxed holiday on the beach, complete with palm trees, beach chairs and umbrellas.

If Italian cuisine prides itself on being clean, sophisticated and simple, the setting at Sabella’s is a perfect reflection of this. We settled down at our table, welcome champagne in hand.

A complimentary platter of fresh breads and pesto paste had us nibbling as we sipped. I really liked the plump, juicy green olives that were served on the side.

It is always a pleasure attending Zomato meetups, and meeting fellow foodies. This time round, we were a table of 30! The table was hosted by Kai Schukowski, General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Ajman.

Sauve, debonair and ever so friendly, German-born Kai happens to be the youngest hotel manager in the history of the entire Kempinski group, and was awarded the Hotel Manager/EAM of the Year award at the Hotelier Middle East Awards, 2015. He tells us Sabella’s is one of 12 restaurants to be located in Kempinski Hotel Ajman. The property’s most popular dining venue is Bukhara, an Indian restaurant chain imported from Delhi. Bukhara has an average Zomato rating of 4.9, and Kai tells us people drive down all the way from Abu Dhabi for their prized dishes. I will have to make a visit to Bukhara soon!

Sabella’s has been in operation for over 2 years, and prides itself for its organic stance on Italian cooking. We got introduced to the multi-talented Chef Andrea Giannini.

We started off our meal with a dainty little serving of fresh Italian Ricotta Cheese served with a home-made fruit mustard. A pairing of cheese with fruit can never go wrong, and this amuse-bouche is an example of how the simplest of dishes always work best.

For our starters round, Chef Andrea entertained us with a live flambe cooking demo. Here is Chef Andrea putting together a Quinoa Salad with Salmon & Zucchini.

The salad is flambeed with vodka, and topped with tomato concasse, rocket leaves and fine shreds of Parmesan cheese.

The quinoa was soft and moist, the salmon cooked till it was just the right shade of pink, and the Parmesan added a dimension of bold, rustic flavor to the dish.

I swapped my champagne for white wine, and after the first sip, I begged to see the bottle! This is a Soave wine, a dry white variation originating from the Veneto region of Italy. It is high on fruity notes, and went beautifully well with the salad.

How can we not have pizza at an Italian place? Chef Andrea treated us to Sabella’s organic home-made Margherita. Just look at how ‘cheesy’ it is :-) I could see foodies requesting extra slices all around the table!

If pizza is a must-have at an Italian joint, pasta cannot be missed either! Chef Andrea makes his pasta from scratch, just like his Mamma did! At Sabella’s, all the ingredients used is fresh and organic, and you can taste the simplicity of the fresh flavors with each forkful.

Apart from the scrumptious Italian fare he dishes out, Chef Andrea is a part-time organic gardener, and a very talented singer to boot! Chef Andrea gave us a tour of Sabella’s organic garden. He is very enthusiastic about his prized herbs!

Back at the table, Chef Andrea got busy dishing out our mains. Here’s Sabella’s Straccetti of Beef. Tossed with a generous helping of caramelized onions and radicchio leaves, the beef is plated on a garnish of red wine sauce, with an old Italian-style potato half on the side.

Just as we were about to dig into our mains, we got introduced to Sabella’s pepper man :-) It surely takes a special talent to maneuver a pepper-mill of that size. Pepper down my beef please!

While we dug into our scrumptious organic beef dish, Chef Andrea took to the mike with an Italian love song. This man is a complete entertainment package by himself!

We ended our meal at Sabella’s on a very sweet note. Below is the mixed platter of Italian desserts. It included a tiramisu, a panna cotta and a cheese cake.

My favorite has to be the light, fluffy, coffee-infused tiramisu. It was gone in no time! The panna cotta was smooth and silky, and the fruit gel it was garnished with helped balance out the sweetness with a hint of tangy fruitiness. The cheese cake was rich, dense and moreish. After devouring the first two, I couldn’t do it justice and am now wishing for another slice as I type!

Overall, Sabella’s is a feast for the soul. The unmatched scenic ambiance coupled with gourmet Italian dishes that use ‘good-for-you’ fresh, organic ingredients makes Sabella’s a unique concept tucked away in the enclave of Kempinski Hotel, Ajman.

It’s the perfect venue for a lazy, laid-back weekend brunch. If you are heading there, call 06 7145555 and reserve a table with a beach view. Sabella’s is located on the 1st Floor of Kempinski Hotel, Ajman. And do ask for Chef Andrea, tell him I sent you :-)

Do you wear red lipstick? Following on from my last beauty post on two of my favorite red lipsticks (click here if you missed it), today’s post is a whole list of reasons you need to wear red lipstick too! 

1. Red lipstick is a classic. It’s one of the very few makeup trends that never go out of style.Screen siren Marilyn Monroe rocked the red lipstick with panache. Bollywood diva Rekha is rarely seen without her signature red pout, and can you imagine the likes of Dita Von Teese and Taylor Swift sans red lippie?!

2. Red lipstick makes your teeth whiter. The sheer contrast of red against your pearly whites makes them gleam a few shades brighter :-)
3. Red lipstick is instant glam! When you’re pressed for time, a dab of bright, red lipstick can transform your look from dreary to diva in seconds.
4. Keep it simple. With red lips, the rest of your makeup can be kept to a minimal. Think monotones of grey and black. Classic red lips with a bold, black eyeliner is total siren material to me!
5. Red is for everybody! Whether you’re pale or a tanned brunette, there is a shade of red to suit everybody. Fairer dames can opt for more cooler, blue-based hues. Brown girls look great with warmer orange tones that highlight the natural yellow undertones of the complexion.

Being told I look like my mother is by far one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. If only I had her effortless grace and cooking abilities to match. The photo below is of my mother infront of the iconic Taj Mahal, sometime in the late seventies.

Mothers and daughters share a very special bond, and I definitely don’t need a commercially whipped up Mother’s Day to tell her how much she means to me. However, going by convention, I wish her twice a year! You see, although the West celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, the Arab world honors mothers on 21st March.

Have you bought your mother something special yet? Hurry! You only have this weekend to get yourself sorted! I have a list of ideas that might help… and these do away with the conventional gifting of bouquets and chocolate, I promise! Read on for more…

The Kenwood kMix Kitchen Machine

Kenwood has really upped their game with the kMix range! Apart from the range’s high-tech features, Kenwood keeps up with the fashion trend and each piece is an ode to retro chic. I love the colour range available, and if I were to choose one piece from the kMix range for my ‘Baking Queen’ mother, it would have to be their 5 liter kMix Machine.

The bright, happy retro colours will add cheer to any kitchen top! Read more about the kMix Kitchen Machine’s features on the Kenwood website.

Panasonic’s ES-ED 94 Relaxing Exfoliation & Epilation in Bath

This is no ordinary epilator, it is a 7-in-1! This wet-to-dry epilator can easily be used in the bath, has double the conventional number of epilating heads, and best of all, it comes with a brush attachment for overall body exfoliation, and a pumice attachment to keep the soles of the feet nice and soft! Read more on this multi-purpose product on the Panasonic website; you might want a second piece for yourself!

Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner by Lush

Ditch the bouquet and give mum the chance to bathe in the luxurious scent of rose. Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner by Lush is loaded with skin-loving ingredients that leaves the skin beautifully moisturized, and has a gorgeous, feminine whiff of rose.

It is also super easy to use. Just dab a generous amount all over the body after a shower (but before you towel dry), then rinse off! Pretty much like a hair conditioner, but for the skin and you don’t have to moisturize afterwards. Promise to do a thorough review on Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner real soon. Till then, go grab a pot for mum!

Free Meal for Mums at PAUL Cafe & Bakery!

PAUL Cafe & Bakery has a very special promotion for mothers on Mother’s Day: On 21st March 2016, all mums can eat breakfast or dinner for free in PAUL’s all over the UAE!

This Mother’s Day all PAUL Bakery and Restaurants will be offering a complimentary continental breakfast for mums who visit any PAUL in the UAE with their family. If Mum isn’t a morning person, PAUL also gives you the chance to treat mum to a free dinner on Mother’s Day, where she can enjoy a salad or main course with a delectable dessert.

• Breakfast Promotion: 1 Complimentary Continental Breakfast
• Lunch Promotion: Choice of 1 salad or main course & 1 dessert

This special promotion is valid on Mother’s Day (Monday 21^st of March) only, and is available at all PAUL Bakery & Restaurant locations, except the airport branch.

Free Meal for Mothers at Kosebasi!

All mums can have a complimentary set menu breakfast at Kosebasi in JBR The Walk. This Mother’s Day Kosebasi will be offering a sumptuous Turkish breakfast for mums who visit with their family!

This promotion is valid on Mother’s Day (Monday 21^st of March) only, and runs from 9 am to 1 pm.

Fuego translates to ‘fire’ in Mexican, and is the aptly chosen name for Souk Al Bahar’s contemporary fine-dining Mexican restaurant. I am always game for a Mexican fare, what’s not to love about spiced up taco pockets stuffed with spiced up beef, and loaded with guacamole and cheese? At Fuego, I learnt there is far more to Mexican cuisine than street-food equivalent tacos.

Headed by Chef Rene Manzanilla who’s flattering Mexican accent makes everything all the more authentic, Fuego takes the rustic goodness of Mexican tradition, and plates it up in a scrumptious, contemporary setting.

Fuego does away with the cliche sombreos and poncho displays. The interiors are artfully decorated with mirrored walls, back-lit architectural art, and wall paintings including one of Frida Kahlo, the queen of goth herself. The Mexican hues of bright oranges, turquoise and purple are used subtly here in the form of table napkins.

Once seated at our table, we were offered a bowl of complimentary tortilla chips, and two mini bowls of salsa (one fiery hot, and the other child-friendly). Having walked about the mall all day, we attacked these with great gusto as we flicked through the Fuego menu.

We started off our Fuego experience with Mexican cocktails. When I saw ‘Tamarind’ under Fuego’s margaritas section, I had to try it. I absolutely love anything and everything with tamarind, and had never had it in the form of a margarita!

Fuego’s Tamarind Margarita is a beautifully sweet and sour mix of tamarind puree, tequila, orange liqueur and sour mix. Although a straw was provided with the very trendy, rustic-style mason jar, I was advised to sip it from the jar directly, and take advantage of the salted rim. This drink is divinely delicious! I wish tamarind margaritas were more easily available elsewhere. I will have to make many trips back to Fuego for this one!

Hubby wanted a beer, and got introduced to Modelo, Mexico’s most prized beer. The staff served it to him in a Mexican version of a Bloody Mary, muddled up in a spicy tomato juice base. I detest beer, but one sip off Hubby had me sold! I think I need to stay away from Fuego… their cocktails are lethally good!

At a Mexican restaurant, how can we not have guacamole? At Fuego, guacamole is created on the spot (and therefore aptly called ‘Guacamole on the Spot‘!).Chef Rene arrived at our table with the guacamole-making tray. In goes the avocado, diced tomatoes, a little chili, cilantro and onion, all pounded together in a very heavy, rustic-looking Mexican mortar called Molcajete. Chef Rene’s secret ingredient for perfect guacamole is fresh lemon juice. He insists really good guacamole should have the taste of fresh lemon sprinkled with salt. To finish off, a dash of freshly ground pepper is added to the mix.

The taste of fresh, salted lemon ran through beautifully in this creamy avocado dip, and it was a real pleasure scooping it all up with the fried tortilla chips on the side.

We also tried tacos at Fuego. On the left is Fuego’s Tacos De Barbacoa an on the right is the Tacos Al Pastor.

The Tacos De Barbacoa are topped with very succulent braised lamb that has been finely shredded to take in two very flavorful sauces made of tomatillo and borracha. These tacos are topped with diced onion and cilantro, and are served with a lamb broth on the side.

The Tacos Al Pastor feature marinated chicken topped with grilled pineapple and garlic sauce. It has an Asian twist with the addition of Adobo sauce.

For our mains, Hubby ordered Fuego’s Duck A La Pibil. Pibil is traditionally slow-roasted pork, and has been handed down from the Mayan dynasty. At Fuego, Chef Rene has kept to his roots when it comes to flavor combinations, and substituted the pork for fine-dining worthy slow-cooked duck. The duck has been sauveed to seal in the flavors of a decadent Achiote citrus sauce, and ensures that the duck meat is beautifully tender and absolutely falling off the bone. It is served with dollops of habanero emulsion, and trickled down with a red onion puree. A cute little corn puff is served on the side.

I had Fuego’s Salmon Green Mole. The salmon was deliciously cooked, with moist, steamy pink flakes on the inside and a decadently crisp skin on top. It sat on this moreishly divine Mole sauce made of green tomatoes. This sauce was the highlight on my plate, and after the salmon was gone, I scooped up the remaining with the risotto rice that came on the side.

By the time we were done with our mains, we were too full to even think of desserts. Richard, our lovely host for the night, insisted we tried Fuego’s Chocolate Fantasia. 

Richard is a Filipino expat, but seems to know everything there is to know about Fuego’s Mexican offerings. He tells us he hardly ate any Mexican till he started working here, and absolutely loves it. We can tell why! The Chocolate Fantasia is Richard’s favorite dessert at Fuego, and I would recommend every chocolate lover out there to give it a try.

Fuego’s Chocolate Fantasia is a chocolate sphere, sitting on a mound of chocolate soil. When a piping hot chili-chocolate sauce it poured over the sphere, its interiors reveal a chocolate brownie and berries filling. Chocolate, upon chocolate, upon chocolate… pure indulgent decadence! To cool off from the richness, a very fruity guava ice-cream is served on the side. Despite complaining about being so overly full, we did a great job at clearing up this plate!

Even if you are not a huge fan of Mexican, Fuego’s is sure to make a convert out of you. Fuego is an absolute fiesta of flavors dished up in the extravagance of fine-dining so akin to Dubai living.

Fuego’s is located on the 3rd floor of Souk Al Bahar, opposite Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai. If you are planning a visit, I highly recommend you book a table. Call 04 4490977 for reservations. Provecho! (That’s ‘bon appetit’ in Mexican :-) ).

Last Thursday, I was invited for a makeover session courtesy Gosh Cosmetics. In all honesty, I had never heard of the brand, and curiosity got the better of me. Will the range really be super spectacular and have me going ‘Gosh! Why were we not introduced earlier?’ Read on for my verdict… and some pretty amazing, brow-raising ‘before & after’ clicks ;-)

Gosh Cosmetics is a Danish brand, and was conceptualized and created in Copenhagen. The range is paraban free, and cruelty free. Apart from their lipsticks which contain beeswax, the Gosh range can also claim to be vegan-friendly!I got my introduction to Gosh Cosmetics at the Lifestyle store in Dubai Mall (Ground Floor, near the exit to the Dubai Fountains).

Gosh has a wide variety of products, and their makeup range is especially extensive. Here is a list of some of the noteworthy products I learnt about on my Gosh tour:

Gosh Lumi Drops

This is highlighter brilliance in liquid form.The formula is very light and blends into the skin beautifully, as demonstrated by the Gosh makeup artist.

Being liquid, this highlighter product is very versatile. Add a few drops to your regular foundation, or a good blob-full into your moisturizer for beach babe shimmer!

Best of all, the Gosh Lumi Drops comes in three very flattering shades. Choose one that best suits your needs!

Gosh #Foundation Drops

A revolutionary beauty product, this is a liquid foundation that comes in a pipette-style bottle and has a dropper application. The foundation itself is very light-weight and the colour depth can easily be built up for personal coverage requirements.

The only downside is that this product only comes in 4 shades. Hopefully Gosh will work on more colour palettes for the cosmopolitan beauty market of the UAE.

Gosh Lipstick Liners

These come in the most flattering of shades, and the Gosh expert tells me they can easily rival the Mac liners! This is a hug claim given the Mac liners cost AED 118 and these cost a mere AED 80 in comparison. I promise to put this to the test, so stay tuned!

Gosh Mascaras

Gosh mascaras have a huge fan following, and for good reason too. When I had my makeover (more on that later!), my barely-there lashes were transformed to look like falsies with the Gosh Rebel mascara.

And then I saw their Boombastic mascaras! These are enhanced with Argan Oil and promise thicker, longer lashes after 2 weeks of use. The eye-lash Gods have finally heard my cry for help! Thank-you Gosh, I have to get my hands on this mascara soon.

The Gosh Hair Care Range

Gosh has a wide range of hair care products, and I absolutely love their bright, funky packaging!

Apart from the institutionally sound coconut oil and argan oil range of hair care, Gosh has recently introduced a macadamia nut based range as well, and let me tell you it smells divine!

I was also eyeing the Gosh Beach Look Hair Spray. Would be perfect for adding volume to limp summer hair!

And now let’s talk about my makeover… if you follow me on Instagram, you have probably already seen the dramatic results!

Tezzy’s Gosh Makeover

Here’s a roundup of all the products that went on my face:

At first I wasn’t too sure about the eye-brows, they were a little to dramatic for my liking. But after the makeover was complete, I think they went really well with the overall look. This was a whole new me! Let the brow games begin, I’ll have to up my eye-brow drawing skills ;-)

Here is a close-up of my look:

I was really impressed with the quality and range that Gosh has to offer, and especially pleased to see their very budget-friendly prices. I left with a stash of Gosh products, and will be reviewing these beauties here soon… stay tuned!

‘Comptoir’ is French for counter, and is often associated with fancy little canapes at a casual bar scene. However, Comptoir 102 has nothing to do with late-night drinking. On the contrary, this groovy little nook on Jumeirah Beach Road is all about healthful, nutritionally sound eating.

Using the finest of organic ingredients, Comptoir 102 whips up a delicious, home-style fare. Best of all, the menu changes every so often as it is totally dependent on seasonal produce. Check their website for daily menu updates.

‘Comptoir 102’ sounds like an expensive perfume. Think cult favorite ‘Chanel No. 5’ for instance! Pairing a French word with a number is tres chic. In this case, the ‘102’ stands for the villa number where the cafe is located; Villa 102 on Jumeirah Beach Road to be precise :-)

We found ourselves in Comptoir for breakfast last week, and I fell in love with the casual, laid-back vibes as soon as I stepped into the premises. When you walk in from the main door, you will find yourself in the Comptoir store. Here, they sell everything from unique fashion accessories to home decor and furniture. You can even buy the furniture used for the restaurant’s set-up if you like!

We decided to sit out on the front porch of Comptoir 102. I love the thatched roofing of this space; it looks so cosy and inviting, and so unlike anything you would be likely to come across in this part of the world.

And how gorgeous is the antique-style silver table top?! It made my areal shot of our breakfast table all the more stunning.

We started off our Comptoir 102 breakfast with their very sought-after sugar and dairy free smoothies.

Hubby tried their Coffee Shake, a shot of coffee blended with almond milk, almond butter, maca, a pinch of cardamom and dates for sweetness. With a list of ingredients like this, you know you’re doing your body a favor for a change! Where else would you find a coffee shake that is actually good for you?!

I had Comptoir 102’s Heaven on Earth smoothie. Apparently this is their most ordered drink, and I can see why! This thick, satiating smoothie is loaded with the sweetness of banana and dates, the full bodied decadence of raw cacao, the nutty goodness of crushed almonds and almond milk, and laced with the characteristic spicy heat of cinnamon. With no sugar or dairy added to the mix, this is one decadent sip your body will thank you for!

Hubby decided he wanted to have pancakes for breakfast. At Comptoir 102, they do a mean feat with their buckwheat pancakes! It is served with scrambled eggs and avocado, the perfect accompaniments for a hearty start to the day.

I tried Comptoir 102’s much-loved Avocado Crocini. This is a platter of gently toasted bread topped with Comptoir 102’s special macadamia sauce, guacamole, cucumber slices and a whole pile of alfalfa sprouts. I love how creamy and full of flavor the topping is, and how the softness is a sharp contrast to the crispness of the bread.

The only tricky part is eating this daintily. Cutlery doesn’t cut it with the toasted bread, and lifting up the slices is a balancing act with all that alfalfa fluff!

We shared a bowl of Chia Pudding on the side. It came topped with sliced banana and dates, and I liked how the consistency was spot on, and not overly set. The staff tell us the secret is to use both coconut milk ad coconut water for setting the chia.

We ended our breakfast at Comptoir 102 on a sweet, healthful note. Below is their divinely delicious Chocolate Petit Pot. 

It has the rich smoothness of a decadent ganache, is brimming with chocolate goodness, and you can really taste the roasted hazelnuts in every spoonful. But here’s the best part of all… this little pot has no added sugar, no milk, no butter, no eggs, and no flour! Comptoir 102 is not giving their secret away, so I’ll have to be back for more and keep up with my guess work. Can someone please figure this one out for me? I need a pot of this every day in my life!

We sipped on warm Lemon Ginger Tea to prolong our time at Comptoir 102. The ambiance is one of leisurely peace akin to the cafe life of Europe. The tea was warm, soothing and refreshingly lemon; it was the perfect ending to a laid-back, idle morning. We need more mornings like these in the week!

Head to Comptoir 102. They are located in Villa 102 on Jumeirah Beach Road (Dubai), and are open from 7.30 am to 9 pm daily. Look up their website for their updated menu options. At Comptoir 102, eating out is a health-enhancing treat!

Many of you have been asking about the lipstick shade I wore in this very colourful #selfie on Instagram below. Ladies, let me introduce you to my current favorite shade by MAC, this is their ‘berry’ beautiful ‘Flat Out Fabulous’.

I am a huge fan of bright, happy lipsticks, and love the gorgeous berry purple of Flat Out Fabulous.

It is a part of MAC’s Retro Matte range. It’s very matte finish along with the bright pigmentation makes it look ‘oh so glamorously retro’!

Being matte makes this striking shade very wearable from day to night, and I believe it will suit a whole range of skin tones. Here’s a swatch on my skin:

What I love About the MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick

• The pigmentation of this lipstick is ah-mazing! Just look at the swatch above. That is just one coating of lipstick.
• Even if you shy away from bright lipsticks, MAC’s Flat Out Fabulous is a very wearable shade given its also matte.
• It’s matte! I have never been a fan of high-gloss lips, so MAC’s ‘retro matte’ range has my full attention.
• I love the iconic packaging of MAC lipsticks. The black bullet-shaped outer is very classy and compact.
• The lipstick has a lovely scent of vanilla. You can get it from the first whiff, but thankfully it is not overpowering, and fades away in a few minutes.

The ‘Not So Good’ About the MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick

• This lipstick can be very drying. You really have to scrub and prime your lips before using this shade as it can reveal a multitude of sins.
• It definitely isn’t kiss-proof, and I tend to stain my coffee cups.
• After 3 hours or so, I tend to need a touch-up to keep it looking peppy.

Pricing & Availability

MAC’s Flat Out Fabulous lipstick is from the brand’s ‘Retro Matte’ range, and is available in all MAC stores across the UAE. It retails for AED 115.

Last week I got invited to the media launch of Atlantis The Palm’s newest addition, a Lebanese fine-dining restaurant called Ayamna. Keeping up with the classy decorum of Atlantis, the interiors of Ayamna reflect on the intriguing romance of a bygone era. Walking down the winding, majestic staircase, the restaurant resembles an enchanted mansion where the hospitality of the glorious Lebanese past has been magically brought to life. ‘Ayamna’ translates to ‘Our Time’, a forgotten time of solace and merriment, of good company and great food.

We started off our Ayamna experience in the open courtyard of the restaurant. Set with wicker chairs and cushioned patios, the area was lit with festive lanterns and tunes of an oud strummed into the night.

We were served dainty little appetizers; clever little mouthfuls condensed with flavors of the Levant. One of my favorites was their cutesy cherry tomatoes stuffed with Arabic lentils, a real pop of authentic flavors!

The interiors of Ayamna feature mirrored walls and marble arches. This regal ambiance was further enhanced with the performance of a stunning young lady who swayed between tables with her seductive moves.

We were lead to our table, and just look at how loaded it is! And this is just a table for two… and it is only the first round of appetizers!

One of my favorite cold appetizers from the night was Ayamna’s Shanklish. This is a traditional Lebanese treat created by mixing together a variety of soft cheeses and herbs. It is then mashed up and used as a dip, or scooped up with khubz (Arabic pita bread).

The Hummus at Ayamna deserves special mention. Hummus, the humble Arabic chickpea dip, is no stranger to a Middle Eastern dweller like me, but never have I enjoyed it quite as much as I did at Ayamna. The Hummus here is on a different league altogether, and to me it almost has a buttery after-taste. Simply magical!

The khubz served at Ayamna is fresh out of the oven, puffy and soft.

Another spread I enjoyed with the khubz was Ayamna’s Muhammara. Their version has fish added to the mix. This spread owes its lovely pale red colour to the addition of roasted red peppers, and has a distinctively delicious smokey after-taste.

And here are some more clicks of the decadent Lebanese treats we enjoyed at Ayamna (sorry the photos are rather dark, the restaurant was dimly lit):

We got introduced to a fruity, full-bodied white sparkling wine from Lebanon called Messaya. It was the perfect accompaniment to our elaborate Lebanese feast.

The star dish of the night was the mixed grill, served on a sizzling hot plate of glowing charcoal.

The desserts round was just as elaborate! We had a whole table full of decadent desserts at our disposal.

Above is Ayamna’s Muhallabia (an Arabic milk pudding) served with a tangy-sweet apricot puree.

By far, my favorite dessert for the night was Ayamna’s Sticky Date Pudding. This dense, moreish, sticky-sweet mess served with a colling scoop of vanilla ice-cream is pure comfort food at its best!

The mastermind behind all the delicious creations at Ayamna at Atlantis The Palm is Chef Ali Elbourji, a well-respected connoisseur of Lebanese fine-dining.

Most of the staff who served us on the night were of Lebanese origin as well, and therefore very well-versed with the menu options. We found the service to be immaculate, and felt very pampered and taken care of.

If you are planning on a special dinner date out and love Lebanese cuisine, Ayamna is the place to be. Ayamna is located on the Ground Level of Atlantis The Palm. Table reservations are highly recommended, call 04 4262626 for details.

As one of the region’s premium beauty and grooming service providers to over 600,000 customers in 5 countries, NStyle Beauty Lounge needs no introduction. The latest addition to their ammunition of beauty tools is their cutting-edge Hydra Facial MD treatments.

The Hydra Facial MD range has been an international success, and has a celebrity following including Paris Hilton herself. I got invited to try out their 30 minute Booster HydraFacial MD Treatment, and two days on, I am still enjoying the #facialafterglow effects :-)

I went to the NStyle Beauty Lounge branch in Dubai Mall.

There seems to be a misconception that NStyle Beauty Lounge only caters to manicures and pedis. The front facade of the store is rather deceptive. Bright, colourful and inviting, you can’t be blamed for thinking they have a small space just specializing on nails. However, upon entering, the salon is impressively wide, clean and spacious.

A separate little door leads to the very zen, dimly lit interiors for NStyle’s spa and facial treatments. Sadly I didn’t get a click of my treatment room interiors, I was far too engrossed with getting relaxed.

By my treatment bed is a computer screen showcasing the Hydra Facial MD. I suspect the screen runs a step-by-step manual for the therapist, while I lay flat with my eyes closed under the stark, bright magnifying light.

I imagine my complexion would be rather interesting to see under this unflattering white, ‘show-all’ light. The facial therapist can get a good look at the skin surface, its crevices, the unsightly pores and blackheads. Her job is to vacuum out the environmental damage, buffer up the surface, and give the skin a thoroughly good scrub and boost of hydration.

The HydraFacial MD®  Treatment Promise

How the HydraFacial MD® Works

• The HydraFacial MD® system using cutting edge technology with the use of a unique Vortex-Fusion® serum delivery system. 
• The multi-step treatment cleanses, evenly exfoliates and extracts to remove impurities and dead skin cells while at the same time replenishing vital nutrients including Antioxidants, Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid. Thanks to the Vortex-Fusion® serum’s superior delivery system, these performing ingredients are able to more effectively help mitigate environmental damage, reduce fine lines & wrinkles, and plump & firm skin for long-term results you can see and feel instantly.

Tezzy’s Experience with the HydraFacial MD®  Treatment

I tried out the Booster HydraFacial MD Treatment. This is a 30 minute facial treatment, and starts off with a session of deep cleansing microdermabrasion. Under the stark white light, with my eyes blissfully shut closed, the facial therapist got to work cleansing my face and giving it a gentle yet thorough exfoliation.

Using the Vortex-Fusion® serum delivery system, she pumps up my skin with products rich in antioxidants and deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid.

The process is thorough, quick and painless. The 30 minutes were up well before I would have liked it to. I was getting rather comfy on that facial bed!

The facial therapist held up a mirror for me to see the end result. My face looked visibly clearer, and flushed with all that deep cleansing. Interestingly, my normal-to-dry skin did not seem tight and calling out for moisturizer after the treatment. It felt rejuvenated from within.

I happened to visit the L’Occitane store right around the corner from NStyle after the treatment. The lady at the store insisted on checking my skin’s hydration level in order to best suggest a face cream. She was amazed to find my reading to be 70. Apparently this is the highest she’s ever seen, as the best is usually around a 65 mark. I in turn, educated her about NStyle’s HydraFacial MD Treatment :-)

Even my husband noticed the difference when I got home, and a few others have commented on my new-found glow.

A clearer, smoother complexion does away with the need for much makeup, and whatever I have been using in the last few days just glides on that much easier.

Amazing how effective a short 30 minute session can do! NStyle also offers the HydraFacial MD Treatment in 60 minutes and 90 minutes packages. These have more treatments built in, including a face and neck mask, and the use of LED light therapy. I’ll be trying out a longer session on my revisit for sure!

Benefits of the HydraFacial MD®  Treatment

• The treatment really gives the skin a thorough clean! Definitely beats a regular home scrub and getting at the inner grime we cannot reach or even see.
• The treatment uses high-quality products that boost internal skin health.
• The skin not only looks rejuvenated, but is hydrated from within.
• Expect far more compliments than usual!
• Makes makeup application is a breeze.
• You get the confidence to #selfie with #nofilter :-)

Pricing & Availability

I did the HydraFacial MD Treatment at the NStyle Beauty Lounge in Dubai Mall. It is also available in the other branches of NStyle Beauty Lounge.

The 30 minute treatment session costs AED 650, and has currently been reduced to AED 350.

Call 800 678953 for more details on bookings.

We had a lovely, laid-back lunch Levant lunch by the sea this afternoon. This was my very first visit to Zaroob, the very kitsch Levant street-food outlet located on the scenic water front of Al Majaz, Sharjah.

I love the funky neon green and fuchsia pink logo. It translates across the branding of the restaurant, and incorporates the traditional mosaic art and the checkered print of the Arabic Keffiyeh (an Arab man’s head scarf).

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon so we decided to take advantage of the stunning views and sit at the patio. On our table was a very kitsch bread bag with the Keffiyeh print. The Arabic embroidered on the front translates to “Where else will you find such good food at such a good price?!”

Browsing through the Zaroob menu, we found the prices really are very low given the stunning location and spunky ambiance. Mains start from as low as AED 11 and go up to AED 30.

I like the casual, clever concept of taking orders here. The staff hand over a pen, and you simply tick what you want to order, and the sheet is torn off and sent to the kitchen.

We started off with a plate of Hummus, and scooped up the creamy chick-pea dip with the complimentary bag of khubz (Arabic pita bread).

Next came the Steak & Mushrooms Man’oushe. This is a pita bread wrap stuffed with steak and mushrooms, and coated in a delicately spiced tomato-based gravy. The wrap also includes oozy melted cheese, and biting into it is like getting into a gourmet burger with an Arabesque touch.

I ordered for Zaroob’s Chakchouka, and was a little disappointed. To me, Chakchouka (or Shakshouka as it is more commonly spelt), is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers and onions. What we got here was a pan of scrambled eggs.

We also tried Zaroob’s Beef Tenderloin Alayet. This is a stir-fry of beef served in a cutesy mini pan. The dish is more Eastern than Arabesque, and has quite a sharp tangy edge to it. Priced at AED 28, it is one of the more expensive items on the Zaroob menu, yet the quantity is not very large as compared to the other dishes.

We ended our Zaroob experience on a very sweet note with their Cinnamon Cream Fateer. This is a generously large platter of thin, layered Saj bread topped with thickened cream, honey and generous pinches of cinnamon. It is decadently sweet, yet not overpoweringly so. The cream makes it a heavy treat, and we struggled to finish it.

Overall, Zaroob lives up to its promise of good food at very affordable prices. Our entire meal was sufficient for Hubby, myself and our 5 year-old and cost us just under AED 150.

Zaroob has branches across Dubai, but if you happen to be in Sharjah, their branch on the Al Majaz waterfront will be a scenic treat.

For more details on Zaroob, and for booking a table, call 800927662.

The weekend before last, we had the pleasure of being invited by Hilton Al Ain for a mini break. Did you know that this is the very first international hotel to have opened on UAE soil? Hilton Al Ain opened its doors to the public way back in 1971, and has an impressively long list of celebrity vacationers with the likes of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Their Majesties – The King and Queen of Spain, and legendary boxing champion Mohammed Ali himself.

Given its long history, the hotel facade and lobby may not look as flash and trendy as we Dubai dwellers have become accustomed to expecting. However, the building has been going through some major renovations, and our Junior Suite was beautifully spacious and inviting.

Hilton Al Ain Junior Suite, Amenities and Room Service:

The Junior Suite has a living-dining room, and a bedroom with a bathroom attached. The dining-table was set with a platter of Arabic sweets and a bowl of fruits to welcome us in. We helped ourselves to the complimentary tea and coffee, and made ourselves at home.

The sofa in the living-room converts into an additional bed, and my 5 year-old felt very special having this room all to herself at night.

The bedroom has a queen-sized bed, a study desk, and a television screen. How lovely to have two screens in one suite! Our toddler was watching all her cartoons in the living-room, while we had the bedroom screen to ourselves for sitcoms

The bedroom comes with ample storage space. There are drawers in the bedside tables, in the television cabinet, and the room also has two spacious wardrobes. One of the wardrobes houses two complimentary bath-robes, an ironing table and slippers.

The bathroom is clean and compact, and I was really impressed with the amenities provided. I am usually very skeptical about hotel toiletries and their quality, but at Hilton Al Ain, the toiletries are from the Peter Thomas Roth brand!

Amenities included in the room:

• Complimentary WIFI in the lobby and room
• A selection of teas and coffee along with an electric kettle
• A platter of Arabic sweets and fruit
• A locker for storing away valuables
• Ironing table and iron
• Bath robes and slippers
• Additional bedding
• Hairdryer
• Bathroom amenities:
  • Towels
  • Toothpaste and tooth-brushes
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Face soap
  • Body cream
  • Shower gel
  • Shaving foam and razor
  • Comb
  • Sewing kit

I was also impressed by the beautiful flower bouquet in the living-room. Nothing like fresh flowers to spruce up a space.

The staff at Hilton Al Ain are very approachable and friendly without being intrusive. When room-service came to make our beds for the night, I forgot I had a face-mask on and opened the door! I looked like a scary green ogre with the Lush Love Lettuce Mask, and despite being rather taken aback initially, the man from room-service managed to keep a straight, formal face throughout!

That afternoon, I took my daughter to the pool. When I asked a staff member for the shortest route to the pool from our room, he did more than just give me directions, he guided me all the way there! Now that’s what I call first-class service

Entertainment Facilities:

Hilton Al Ain has two swimming-pool areas. One is for serious swimmers doing laps, and is only accessible to swimmers over 18 years of age.

The other is a family pool which is predominantly shallow, and has a very entertaining slide and waterfall area for the kids.

My daughter had so much fun on that slide! It is a winded, spiraling tunnel that ends with a big splash into the pool. I got the mummy jitters when she first went on, but the life-guards reassured me she would be alright, and could keep her floatie on. I was at the end of the tunnel waiting to catch her after the splash. Around 20 times later, I was comfortable enough to get back to me poolside deck and flick a magazine! It was a challenge getting her out of there.

They also have a mini play area near the pool, and my daughter practiced her monkey-like climbing skills on the ropes, slided down the pole, and giggled on the swing.

The hotel also has a gym, sauna, and tennis and squash courts.

Dining Options:

With 7 very different dining concepts on the property featuring Mexican, Arabic, Italian and international cuisines, Hilton Al Ain has foodies very spoilt for choice. We got to try out Flavours, their international buffet restaurant, for lunch and breakfast. We had dinner at Makani Cafe, an open-air Arabic restaurant under the stars, puffing on shisha. When my daughter went into deep snooze mode after her long, exciting day at the pool, Hubby and I managed to sneak out for a few hours to Paco’s, Hilton Al Ain’s very happening Tex-Mex bar featuring live entertainment by a very talented band called ‘Steel’. I will be posting more on our dining experiences in Hiton Al Ain in my next few posts, stay tuned!

Places to Visit in Al Ain:

• 10 minutes walking distance from Al Ain Mall
• The Jebel Hafeet Mountain range is visible from the hotel’s rooms, and is one of the major tourist attractions of Al Ain
• The Al Ain Zoo featuring the very rare and beautiful white tigers.
• Explore Al Ain’s magnificent sand dunes on a desert safari.
• Discover the cultural sites of the city, considered as human heritage by UNESCO

A public bus service stops right at the front of the hotel. Avis car rentals also has an office on the ground floor of the hotel.

Overall, we had a very well-deserved, chilled out break at Hilton Al Ain. The beautifully serene, spacious room coupled with excellent room service and a whole array of delicious food to boot (more on that later!), makes me want to run back there right now! Hilton Al Ain is a great getaway from hectic city life, and is also a haven for young families looking for some quality time with their little ones.

Planning a short getaway from the humdrum of city life? Head to Al Ain, and book a room at the Hilton!

Hilton Al Ain is located in the Al Sarooj District (Al Ain). For more details on the hotel and its facilities, visit their website, or call +971 3 768 6666.

I will be posting about my dining experiences at Hilton Al Ain next, so stay tuned!

Flavours Restaurant at Hilton Al Ain is the hotel’s all-day dining venue. The restaurant has recently been renovated, and features stunning Arabesque decor.

During our staycation at Hilton Al Ain, this was the very first restaurant we tried out. We got to the hotel around noon, dumped our luggage in our suite, and after a quick cup of tea, we headed to Flavours for their international buffet lunch.

The weather was very pleasant, and we chose to dine at the patio facing the pool.

Flavours restaurant’s lunch buffet is an elaborate spread of international cuisines. Being a fan of fresh seafood, I was very excited seeing the variety on offer, including a smorgasbord of sushi.

There was this particularly mean looking fish on display. This whole fish has been baked in a thick salt crust. This baking process ensures just the right amount of salt goes into the flesh of the fish, and the end product is beautifully soft, steamy, flavorful fish. It is as delicious as it is ugly!

Meat lovers can load their plates with this very rich, wholesome Irish Lamb Stew. This slow-cooked stew is falling-off-the-bone delicious!

The buffet also includes freshly grilled lamb chops that are delivered to the table!

Yet another carnivorous treat from the Flavours lunch buffet is their Shepard’s Pie. This classic combination of beautifully smooth potato mash with mince can never go wrong for me.

If all this is far too ‘meaty’ for you, cleanse the palate with Flavours’ healthful stir-fried vegetables!

Flavours specializes in freshly made, health-enhancing smoothies. Here I am getting a Strawberry-Yogurt smoothie made for my little tot.

This is when I met Mr. Ali, the multi-talented Restaurant Manager at Flavours! 

Mr. Ali is a Pakistani national, and has vast experience in the hospitality business. Apart from his managerial role, he has a keen interest in cooking and shred many fond memories of his family home and mother’s cooking.

Mr. Ali introduced me to a very special mocktail he has created himself. This is Flavours’ Pink Wink, a very refreshing combination of lemon, orange, mint and cranberry. This pink beauty makes its drinker ‘wink’ on first sip thanks to its surprising sourness.

The Flavours lunch buffet includes alcoholic beverages. Heineken in hand, and a plate of freshly grilled lamb chops to go with it, Hubby was one happy diner at Flavours!

Flavours is truly a family restaurant. They have a special buffet for young children, and it includes all the kid-friendly dishes they love including nuggets, pizza and pasta.

I was mighty impressed when I was informed the cartoon decor by the children’s buffet was created in-house by the restaurant staff themselves!

The staff at Flavours truly love their special little customers. My daughter was more enthralled by the live performance at Flavours. Two gorgeous Cuban ladies with husky vocals, were singing on stage. They were sweet enough to let my little one play the maracas with them on stage. This really made her day!

The lunch buffet at Flavours includes an wide range of desserts.

They also have a chocolate fountain! We coated marshmallow with chocolate lava, and even had a go with the fruit kebabs.

We were back for breakfast the following morning. Flavours offers an interesting mix of breakfast options.

Susages and hash browns make for a very continental breakfast.

They also serve pretty pots of muesli.

Our favorite dish from the Flavours breakfast buffet was their mushrooms in white sauce. This is a must-try dish for mushroom lovers, and that buttery sauce is so sinfully good!

Those wanting a heavier start to the day can opt for the very Indian paratha (flaky Indian flatbread) and aloo sabzi (potato curry) combination.

I helped myself to an Arabic breakfast of foul medammes.

They also have a section of Arabic spreads including Hummus and Moutabbel.

For drinks, Flavours offers a range of options including fresh juices, made-to-order smoothies, laban, and milk.

The very accommodating Mr. Ali insisted on making us glasses of fresh lassi (a yogurt-based drink that he has grown up having in his native hometown in Pakistan). We really enjoyed this light, frothy-sweet glassful! The drink looked forbiddingly large in the tall glasses it was served in, but we did a great job at finishing it off

We ended our long, leisurely breakfast at Flavours restaurant with warm cups of coffee and handfuls of locally grown Al Ain dates.

Flavours restaurant was a delightful addition to our stay at Hilton Al Ain. We enjoyed both their lunch and breakfast buffets, and I was highly impressed with the variety of international options on offer. The service at this restaurant is absolutely exemplary, and we have made good friends with the very entertaining Mr. Ali.

If you are booking a room at Hilton Al Ain, you will enjoy a complimentary breakfast at Flavours restaurant. However, you do not have to be a checked-in guest to dine here. Do give Flavours a try next time you happen to drive by Al Ain, their buffet options have something for everyone.

Breakfast: 6:30 am -10:00 am on weekdays and 6:30 am – 11:00 am on weekends.
Lunch: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm on weekdays and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm during the Friday Brunch.
Dinner: 7:00 pm -11:00 pm daily.

Flavours restaurant is located on the Ground Floor of Hilton Al Ain (Al Surooj District, Al Ain). Call 03 7686888 for details. Bon apetit!

Our staycation at Hilton Al Ain involved a great deal of snoozing, floating about the poolside and having an idle lunch at Flavours restaurant. Our dinner reservation was made at Makani Cafe, Hilton Al Ain’s open-aired restaurant specializing in Arabic grills and shisha.

‘Makani’ translates to ‘my place’ from Arabic, and the beautifully serene ambiance spread across an expanse of lush greenery, complete with a makeshift stage at the front with live entertainment, is sure to make anyone feel right at home.

The night was pleasantly breezy, and we sat under a star-lit sky, sniffing whiffs of aromatic grills mingled with shisha puffs. The atmosphere was one of merriment, and the tables were all booked out.

The gorgeous Cuban duo from Flavours was back here, mesmerizing us with more numbers. They even attempted a few Arabic favorites, and won appreciative hoots from the crowd.

We started off with Makani Cafe’s fresh juices. Hubby had a glass of fresh watermelon juice, and I opted for carrot.

Hubby and I shared a watermelon-flavored shisha. Its been a while since my last shisha puff, but I took to it like a duck to water, and before long I was letting out steam through my nostrils😀

We were served a variety of 6 mezzes (starters). These included Hummus (Arabic chickpea dip), Moutabbel (Arabic eggplant dip), an Arabic feta cheese dip, Kebbeh (an Arabic pastry made of bulghar and stuffed with meat and pine nuts), Falafel (deep-fried Arabic lentil patties), and pastry rolls stuffed with salty Arabic cheese.

We ordered the Makani Cafe mixed grill. It took a while to get to our table, but it sure came with a good deal of sizzling drama! The mixed grill is served on flaming hot coal, and includes delectable pieces of shish tawook (chicken and lamb pieces marinated in traditional Arabic spices, and flame-grilled), lamb chops, lamb kebabs, koftas and spicy Arabic sausages.

Its hard to choose a favorite from this grill. All the pieces were beautifully moist and tender, and brimming with individually good flavors.

We ended our meal at Makani Cafe with a bowl of Umm Ali (a rich Arabic variation of bread pudding). The pudding was sinfully rich and sweet, and we struggled to do justice to this very generously large helping.

Overall, we had a lovely laid-back evening at Makani Cafe. The outdoor setting under the stars coupled with the beautifully pleasant weather kept us seated there for longer than we had planned. The menu is not very extensive, but each dish was created with real attention to detail. If you are planning a staycation at Hilton Al Ain, an evening at Makani Cafe is a must.

Makani Cafe is located near the pool area of Hilton Al Ain. Table reservations are highly recommended. Call 03 7686666 for details.

We had a very memorable, chilled-out staycation at Hilton Al Ain. Our day was lined up with siestas in our suite, splashes by the pool, and a delicious lineup of gastronomy at Flavours restaurant and Makani Cafe.

Hilton Al Ain is also renowned for Paco’s, Al Ain’s most happening Tex-Mex bar featuring award-winning live entertainment by a very talented band called “Steel”.

Paco’s turns into a hep night spot after 9 pm, and I really wanted to hang out there. The issue was we were staycationing with our 5 year-old sans any sitter. Thankfully the long day by the pool, and dance-alongs with the lovely Cuban singers at Flavours and Makani Cafe tired out our little one, and she was snoozing on her sofa-bed by 10.

Hubby and I tucked her to sleep, and tiptoed out to Paco’s. I felt like a sneaky teenager all over again!

The band at Paco’s ah-mazing! The 5-person band who go by the name of Steel managed to sway everyone at the bar with crowd-pleasing numbers including ’90s renditions of Ace of Base, Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’, and the more recent ‘All About the Base’ by Meghan Trainor.

Steel is truly a band of entertaining professionals. They have the groove, the move and had people standing up to dance.

I sipped on Pina Colada and clapped along.

We were also served a platter of sticky, salty-sweet chicken wings. Perfect pub grub if you ask me!

Hubby was sweet enough to take over the duty of sneaking up to check on bubby. What a lucky night! She was in perfectly deep slumber in her very comfy hotel bed, and we got to party it out at Paco’s till early dawn.

Not so lucky the next morning though… Our daughter was up, bright-eyed and perky at 7 am, begging to be taken back to the water slide at the pool!

Paco’s is a favorite nightlife hangout joint among Al Ain dwellers. The funky Te-Mex ambiance coupled with an extensive list of cocktails, drinks and Tex-Mex pub-grub is only half the attraction. It’s the crowd-swaying beats of Steel that makes this bar a must-visit for the young at heart.

Paco’s is located on the Ground Floor of Hilton Al Ain (Al Sarooj District, Al Ain). Call 03 7686666 for table reservations (although I doubt you will be doing much sitting, the band will keep you on your feet all night long!).

I recently got introduced to Gosh Cosmetics, and got to take away a few of their gorgeous, very reasonably priced products to try out for myself. Come to think of it, most of the goodies I got are ‘all about the base’ I seem to be in dire need to up my base-makeup ammunition, and am absolutely loving these three Gosh products:

I will do an in-depth product review of the three in later posts. Today, I just want to rave about how wonderful this trio has been at upping my makeup skills.

Good makeup starts with a good base. Ofcourse that starts with great, well cared for skin, and then we have primers, BB creams and foundations to iron out the flaws.

I for one prefer a lighter coverage for everyday wear, and stay clear of foundations. I have used BB creams in the past, but never a makeup primer.

The Gosh Primer Plus+ Illuminating Skin Perfector smoothens out the skin, and has a very subtle sheen that adds a very believable glow to the complexion.

The Gosh Prime ‘n Set mattifying powder helps to set the primer in place, and eliminates shine. Perfect for the warmer days that are soon upon us! I used this powder after the primer, and again after the BB Cream for additional finish.

I absolutely love the multi-tasking Gosh BB Cream. It is tinted to work as a lightweight foundation, has a built-in SPF of 15, and is enriched with skin-loving ingredients such as Sea Buckthorn Oil and Vitamin E to keep the skin moisturized and supple all day long.

For my look below, I also used a fourth Gosh product, the Gosh Lip Liner in Antique Rose. This dusky pink shade is absolutely stunning, and can be worn day and night. The colour is very matt which I love, and it stays put for hours even after lick-worthy meals.

For the look above, here is a roundup of all the products that went #OnMyFace :

1. Gosh Primer Plus+ Illuminating Skin Perfector.
2. Gosh Prime ‘n Set.
3. Gosh BB Cream.
4. Benefit Real Cheeky Party (a collector’s edition tin of Benefit’s best loved blushes). I used Hoola on the cheekbones, and Coralista to highlight.
5. Makeup Forever Aqua Brow Kit.
6. Too Faced Chocolate Bar eye-shadow palette: I used White Chocolate on the browline, Milk Chocolate on the lids, and finished off with Triple Fudge for the crease.
7. No7 Lash Impact Mascara.
8. Lakme Eyeconic kajal pencil in black on lower eyelid.
9. Gosh Lip Liner in Antique Rose.

When I saw an email invite in my inbox from Ishita Saha, I gave out a squeal of delight! Celebrity blogger Ishita Saha of ishitaunblogged fame (who also happens to be co-editor of FoodeMag, Dubai’s finest e-magazine on food) is the kind of role model aspiring food bloggers like me look up to. Dinner with Ishita was bound to be a memorable experience, and she elevated my expectations with this short clip on the restaurant we were previewing:

Farzi Cafe was created by none other than the ‘Czar of Indian Cuisine’, the legendary Chef and television personality Jiggs Kalra himself. Farzi Cafe in Gurgaon, India has had phenomenal success, and like all highly successful restaurant ventures, we now have a Dubai import to boast of.

Farzi Cafe is located in City Walk (Phase 2) off Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah. I was among a handful of very lucky bloggers and media personalities to be hosted for a sneak preview of Farzi Cafe Dubai by FoodeMag and Jiggs Kalra’s restaurateur son Zorawar Kalra.

As much as I enjoy sharing everything that I have learnt over the years with Zorawar, I am excited and eager to hear his innovative concepts and modern possibilities to do with food. I feed elated when people introduce me as Zorawar Kalra’s father. Indeed, food has filled up my heart. – Jiggs Kalra, BoldGraphix.com

The interiors of Farzi Cafe has been done up with suave, futuristic finesse. The flatteringly haloed lighting coupled with starlit walls, makes for a  welcomingly enchanting ambiance.

Farzi Cafe is a gastronomic take on authentic Indian cuisine with clever, unexpected twists and turns. The magic of molecular gastronomy has been thrown in for some drama, and the presentation of the dishes had each diner goggling in awe.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the #Farzified dishes we had the honor of sampling:

I am a huge fan of tangy-sweet chaat, and Farzi Cafe’s Tangy Chaat Puff hit all the right spots for me. Served with a crisp okra salad on the side, and topped with a light, flavorful chutney foam, the ‘puff’ was stuffed with a deliciously spiced yogurt mix inside. But how did they get the mixture into the uncracked puff? Farzi magic ofcourse😉

Below is a treasure-chest of Farzi Cafe’s Shittake Sliders. How cool is the presentation?! If you love your mushrooms, these sliders are bursting with shittake flavor you will absolutely devour.

For the carnivorous slider fans, Farzi Cafe serves up a truck-load of flavorful goodness in the form of their very meaty, spiced Classic Galouti Burger. So glad I wasn’t dining with my 5 year-old, she would have insisted on taking this truck home!

We were served these cute little shot-glasses of seriously decadent chocolate. The staff tell us no cream or other base has been added. This is a serious calorie-laden kick for chocaholics!

My favorite dessert from the night was Farzi Cafe’s Rasmalai. This is traditional ras malai revamped with a touch of lychee, and served sandwiched with layers of very delicious carrot cream. It was topped with a sugar crystal rose petal net. Pity we had to share this, I want one all to my self the next time I’m at Farzi Cafe!

Great news Dubai; Farzi Cafe has opened its doors to the public on 29th March 2016. Do check them out on City Walk (Phase 2) in Jumeirah – Dubai, and tret yourself to something well out of the ordinary.

Tucked away on Umm Al Sheif Street, off Jumeirah Beach Road is a beautifully done up slice of Italy. With its vintage-style street lamps and very inviting checkered red and white tablecloths,  Mozzo Centrale looks like it has been transported directly from Italy, furnishings and all.

The location is pretty residential, and I would have easily driven past it if I wasn’t actually looking it up on my trusty GPS. Given it is in a cosy neighbourhood nook, Mozzo Centrale truly is a well-kept neighbourhood secret.

The ambiance is warm, friendly and casual. We got there on a weekday evening, and their alfresco dining space was packed with regulars socializing with friends and family.

I have a special affiliation for red and white checkered tablecloths. They remind me of childhood picnics, freshly baked bread and my mother’s cooking. The red and white print is also very European, very cafe-style, and cheerfully casual. Funny how a tablecloth print can give me such a nostalgic gush and put my subconscious at ease right away!

The staff at Mozzo Centrale are very friendly and helpful. Our server for the night really knew the menu offerings well, and I was especially impressed that they have the listing available on a tablet.

The soft-copy menu comes with photos of each item. This reduces the chances of envying the neighboring table’s order! Happens to me all the time!

We were given a complimentary serving of bread sticks with a delectable pesto sauce. I had just come in from work, and was pretty ravenous. I took to the bread with great gusto, and really enjoyed that pesto dip.

Mozzo Centrale is a family-friendly eatery. I was thankful for the colouring sheets they offered my little tot. It kept her preoccupied while we delved into a heated debate on what to order.

Our host for the night recommended Mozzo Centrale’s Spicy Chicken Strips. These mildly spiced, deep-fried boneless chicken strips have a deliciously crunchy coating, but the real flavour lies in the Jalapeno sauce that is served on the side. It is essentially a ketchup base that has been spiked up with finely diced jalapeno and hot sauce, and a dip into this wee pot really brings the crmbed chicken to life.

We were also recommended Mozzo Centrale’s Super Salad. Any guesses on what the base of this ‘super’ salad is? Quinoa ofcourse! Gluten-free and loaded with iron, B-vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamin E and fiber, quinoa continues to be a buzzword in the world of super-foods. Say ‘healthy’, an my carnivorous husband will run a mile but this salad seems to have made a convert out of him. Apart from the lettuce, parsley and shredded carrot, I really loved the mashed up avocado and bits of roasted sweet potato. The salad was laced with the tangy-sweet aftertaste of a vinaigrette dressing, and I would gladly eat this dish as a main course.

For my mains, I tried Mozzo Centrale’s Tagliatelle Alfredo. The creamy white sauce and mushrooms makes this dish the perfect comfort food. I can have this sans chicken, but used up all the shredded Parmesan that came on the side! The portion size at Mozzo Centrale is generously large. Make sure you’re really hungry, or opt to share. This plate was sufficient between me and my 5 year-old.

Hubby had Mozzo Centrale’s Spicy Beef, a serving of Angus beef tenderloin that has been marinated in sweet soya sauce, chili and sesame seeds. The marination was delicious, and tasted more Far Eastern than Italian. The downside was Hubby didn’t get asked how he would like his meat, and it was a little overdone for his liking.

The beef comes with a side serving of creamy Asparagus Risotto. I wish they had this as a main dish, it really is good enough to have on its own!

Pity we didn’t have room for Mozzo Centrale pizza! I’ve been told they make really authentic Italian pizzas, and their wood-fired oven is out on display.

The drinks at Mozzo Centrale are absolutely divine! I had an icy slush of mixed berries, and Hubby had a very tropical mango-pomegranate drink spiked with chili.

How can we not have dessert at an Italian place? We shared Mozzo Centrale’s specialty, the Decadent Angel Berry Trifle. This is a mason jar layeeed with whipped cream, assorted berries, and melt-in-the-mouth fluffy, cloud-like Angel cake. It is as delicious as it is pretty

We had to drown all this decadence with hot, frothy cups of cappuccino.

Next time you happen to be in the Umm Suqueim neighbourhood, do look up Mozzo Centrale. Their tablecloths will fool you into believing you are in Europe😉 Take your friends with you, the casual vibes will make Mozzo Centrale your newest hangout joint. And I highly recommend their Super Salad!

Buono Appetito!

When Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa opened a little coffee shop in London way back in 1971, little did they realize this was the start of a global empire. Fast-forward to present time, and you will be hard-pressed finding a coffee drinker who hasn’t heard of Costa Coffee. The company currently has over 3,000 stores across the globe, 132 of which happen to be spread across the UAE.

Having won a long list of global accolades, the brand continues to hold its position as a market leader in the coffee business by complacently adhering to their stringent quality standards, and enticing true coffee lovers with new, exciting roasts.

I had the pleasure of attending a Costa event last week, and was one of the very first people in the UAE to take a sip of their limited edition Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11.

A Brief Background on Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11

The first in a series of limited-edition roasts, Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11 is exclusively sourced from Kenya, roasted in London and is now available here in Dubai. Quite a global cup of coffee, don’t you think?!

The first in a series of limited-edition roasts, Old Paradise Street #11 is sourced from the western side of the Kirinyaga district of the Mount Kenya mountain in Kenya. Only the rarest and finest 100% Arabic single origin beans have been brought to the UAE via Costa Coffee’s Roastery on Old Paradise Street in London, where they have been slow roasted under the meticulous eye of Costa’s Master Roaster, Gennaro Pelliccia.

What makes Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11 so special?

Old Paradise Street Roast #11 is a unique, one of a kind, single-origin coffee that will be available for a limited time only.

The beans are ground as they are needed, so that the roast stays continuously fresh. The coffee has been specially crafted to bring out citrus undertones with a chocolatey aftertaste. With a subtle burst of honey flavour, the taste is smooth, clean and sweet.

Key Flavour Notes of Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11:

• The tangy, fresh hit of citrus
• The full-bodied flavour of dark chocolate
• A subtle hint of honey

At Costa Coffee, the master roasters have more in store for true coffee connoisseurs. Each Old Paradise Street limited Roast will have its own unique flavour blend and aroma. Now, you can truly get a taste of paradise!

Where can you get a cup of Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11?

Costa Coffee’s Old Paradise Street Roast #11 will be available at Costa Coffee outlets across the UAE from April 5^th.

Special Offer! To celebrate this exclusive launch of Old Paradise Street Roast No. 11, on the 11^th April from 11am, you can enjoy any coffee of your choice and you can #TasteParadise for only 11AED.

Win a trip to Kenya!

Visit Costa Coffee’s social media pages to share your favourite #TasteParadise moments of happiness and you could win a trip to Kenya and experience the origins of Costa’s Old Paradise Street blend for yourself!

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